Reading school pupil chosen to be a Rugby World Cup mascot

George Smith with 12-year-old Duncan Kenton, who has been selected to be a mascot for Australia during the 2015 World Cup

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A Reading school pupil has been chosen to be one of the mascots at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Duncan Kenton, who attends Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, was told of the news by former Wallabies legend and Wasps player George Smith at the club's London training ground.

He was there to surprise Kenton with the news that following an audition at the Wasps-hosted Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup last September, the 12-year-old had been chosen as an official mascot.

Kenton, who plays for Marlow under-13s, will be one of 48 official mascots chosen through the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, a series of national grassroots tournaments, and he admits he is now counting down the days.

"I was really shocked when I found out I was going to be a mascot, I thought we were just going down to watch Wasps train," said Kenton. "George came up to me and said I had been picked to be a mascot for the Australia versus Uruguay game.

"He said I had a good team and to do us proud. I didn’t tell him that I actually support South Africa.

"When I auditioned last year I had to sing the English national anthem, I didn’t think I was that good a singer but I must be.

"I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure I’m going to be nervous but it’s going to be an awesome experience."

Huge opportunity

Land Rover’s search for mascots forms part of their ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign which aims to put grassroots rugby on the global stage during this year’s Rugby World Cup.

And Wasps flanker Smith admitted that days such as this were invaluable for helping to promote rugby at all levels.

“Duncan was pretty shocked when he found out he was going to be a mascot,” he said. “But I’m sure he’s going to do a great job, he seemed quite confident and hopefully he can be a mascot for a winning Australia performance.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Duncan and all the children that have been picked to experience Rugby World Cup 2015 first hand, to see their heroes up close and to be a part of it all.

“It’s a great privilege and at the same time they get to sample the atmosphere and create memories that will stay with them for a long time.”

Smith was speaking on behalf of Land Rover. Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and is recruiting all 96 official mascots for the Tournament as part of its 'We Deal In Real' campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal